PRECISE-CMD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PRECISE phenotyping to guide therapies for Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (PRECISE-CMD)
IRAS ID
359105
Contact name
Haseeb Rahman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study focuses on understanding and improving the diagnosis and treatment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD), a condition where the small blood vessels in the heart do not work properly. People with CMD often experience chest pain and shortness of breath, even when their main heart arteries appear normal during tests. CMD affects many individuals, leading to repeated hospital visits and reduced quality of life, yet there are no widely available, proven treatments for it. It is also unclear if all types of CMD are caused by the heart not receiving enough oxygen during physical activity.
Currently, diagnosing CMD requires a coronary angiogram, which is a minimally invasive procedure to measure blood flow. This research aims to find better, non-invasive methods to detect CMD and explore new treatments by studying how the heart uses energy. This study also looks to identify if there is a shortage of oxygen during exercise in CMD. Additionally, this study will investigate whether shifting the heart's energy source—like using more sugar instead of fat—can improve blood flow and reduce symptoms and therefore provide a novel treatment option for CMD sufferers. The study will test if these improvements can be tracked through safe, non-invasive scans.
By advancing our understanding of CMD and developing new diagnostic tools, this study hopes to make testing safer and more accessible. In the long term, the findings could lead to personalised treatments that are tailored to each patient's specific type of CMD, improving care and quality of life for those affected by this condition.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0222
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion